LEIA Safety Information Sheet Fall Protection - Lift and Escalator Industry Association
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LEIA Safety Information Sheet Fall Protection Prepared by the LEIA Safety and Environment Committee
02/17
Contents
PREAMBLE ........................................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 3
TYPES OF EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................................................ 4
WORK RESTRAINT EQUIPMENT .......................................................................................................... 4
ANCHOR POINTS FOR WORK RESTRAINT........................................................................................ 4
FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT................................................................................................................... 5
ANCHOR POINTS FOR FALL ARREST ................................................................................................ 6
INSPECTION OF WORK RESTRAINIT AND FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT ......................................... 7
RESCUE/RECOVERY OF FALLEN PERSON ............................................................................................. 8
FURTHER INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... 8
Document Reference 22
Issue Nº 2
22.2
Revision Date 09/02/2018
Next Review Date Feb 2021
02/17
PREAMBLE
This Information Sheet is one of a series produced by the LEIA Safety and Environment Committee
on topics relevant to the Lift and Escalator Industry. Whilst every effort has been taken in the
production of these sheets, it must be acknowledged that they should be read in conjunction with
the relevant legislation, codes of practice etc. They should not be taken as an authoritative
interpretation of the law but guidance to it.
INTRODUCTION
The general principles set out in the Work at Height Regulations (see LEIA/ SAFed Lift & Escalator
Industry Guidance for Working at Height) are to:
Prevent Minimise
Avoid Ladders
a fall consequences
•Avoid the work at •Collective Measures •Collective Measures •Low risk and short
height if possible •Vertical Screens in •Move lift car to duration tasks may
shafts lowest point in be undertaken on
•Guard rails around shaft ladders
a car top or at the •Safety nets •A risk assessment
edge of a roof •Air bags should be carried
•Car top extensions •Personal Measures out prior to use
•Scaffolds •Harness and work
•Personal Measures arrest lanyard
•Harness and work
restraint lanyard
Collective measures are always to be given priority over personal measures.
All work at height should be the subject of thorough risk assessment to ensure necessary steps are
implemented so that the work can be carried out safely. All work at height must be properly planned
and organised and everyone who works at height, or who organises work at height, must be trained
and competent to do so. Planning must include planning for emergencies including rescue of persons
suspended after falling.
When work on lifts is undertaken in customer premises the provision of permanently fixed guard
rails/barriers on the top of lift cars in many cases will be beyond the control of the lift company and
indeed may not be physically possible due to constraints of the building.
In circumstances where preventing the fall by fixed barriers is not possible, personnel still need
protection and there may be no other option but to select personal fall protection equipment. The
most suitable equipment must be selected.
THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE SEEN AS THE FINAL
OPTION AND SHOULD ONLY BE SELECTED IF GENUINELY UNAVOIDABLE – NOT AS A CONVENIENT
OPTION.
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TYPES OF EQUIPMENT
Personal fall protection equipment falls into 2 categories:
Work Restraint Equipment - prevents the person reaching an edge from which a fall could
occur.
Fall Arrest Equipment – arrests the fall using a shock absorbing device. This mitigates the
distances and consequences of the fall.
Remember, preventing the fall must be given priority over mitigating the distance and consequences
of the fall.
WORK RESTRAINT EQUIPMENT
The user wears a body harness and is attached to a secure point by a fixed tether. In practice this is
likely to be a lanyard capable of being adjusted to suit different locations.
The principle is that the lanyard prevents access to the edge
from which the person could fall (e.g. the unprotected edge
of a lift car roof). If the edge cannot be reached then no fall
is possible.
It should be noted that:-
The lanyard or tether must prevent access to the
edge.
If an adjustable lanyard is used then it must be
correctly adjusted to prevent any edge being
reached.
When using an adjustable lanyard, self-discipline by the
user is required to ensure the device is correctly adjusted. If Adjustable Work Restraint
this fails to happen a fall is possible and there is a higher Lanyard
risk of injury if a fall occurs while wearing incorrectly
adjusted work restraint equipment.
ANCHOR POINTS FOR WORK RESTRAINT
If an attachment on an operational lift is required then ideally a purpose made fixing point on top of
the car should be used (but see also note to Anchor Points For Fall Arrest below). If anchorage
around the crown bar is used it must not be able to move if this changes the length of the tether
which could expose the user to the fall hazard. (See Figure below)
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Anchor Points for Work Restraint:
High anchor point limits potential for a fall Low anchor point may not prevent a fall
FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT.
The user wears a full body harness and is attached to a secure point via either a lanyard including a
shock absorber, inertia reel block or similar device. The anchorage point must be chosen carefully
(See below).
The principle is that if the user falls the lanyard shock absorber or inertia reel device arrests the
falling person before they hit anything or are injured by the impact of the fall.
A fall arrest lanyard with a shock absorber must not be used with a belt
Fall-arrest Lanyard with Shock
Absorber
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This equipment may be suitable for some
applications particularly in a construction
environment; if it is selected then:
• A rescue procedure will need to be
considered and in place when the work is
undertaken.
• Clear distances/spaces into which a person
can fall need to be available.
• Anchor points should be as high as possible.
If a person were to be suspended in a harness and
unable to rescue themselves (e.g. if they were
unconscious) there is risk of death or serious injury
from suspension syncope (See below).
Principle of Fall Arrest
ANCHOR POINTS FOR FALL ARREST
If a lanyard with a fall arrest shock absorber is used then the anchor point must be chosen such that
it is capable of accepting a shock load (Minimum 12kN or 1.2 tonnes)
Account needs to be taken of the consideration that high anchor points may be difficult to achieve in
a lift environment.
In the lift industry, where single man working is common, the use of personal fall arrest equipment is
problematic. Anchor points are often at low level, clear fall spaces cannot be guaranteed and the
need for urgent recovery is important, it is for these reasons there is major concerns and the use of
fall arrest for single man working is not recommended.
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It is important to remember when using fall protection equipment that the anchorage point should
be of adequate strength and be suitably located (see above diagrams). If the lift is operational, it is
vital that the choice of the anchorage point is carefully considered so that the user is not
endangered should the lift move. If an attachment on an operational lift is required then ideally a
purpose made fixing point on top of the car should be used (but see note below). Attachment to
scaffolding during the installation stage, prior to the car being mobile, is acceptable, provided that
the scaffold conforms to the legal requirements and the attachment point will take the load.
NOTE: Purpose made anchor devices (structural anchors or eye bolts, anchor devices employing
horizontal flexible lines and anchor devices employing horizontal rigid rails) are considered to be PPE
and will need regular inspection and CE marking (see WAHSA Guidance TGN03 and TGN04).
INSPECTION OF WORK RESTRAINIT AND FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
The user of work restraint and fall protection equipment must have received training in the correct
use and maintenance of the equipment. The harness should visually be inspected by the user on
each occasion it is used, paying particular attention to:-
Webbing - check for cuts, even ones as small as one millimetre, abrasions, chemical damage,
etc
Snap Locks - check for damaged or distorted hooks, springs and jaws
Stitching - check for broken, cut or worn threads, seams etc
Lanyards - check for signs of wear
Inertia Reels – check for damage to casing and lanyard
Tactile checks – softening or hardening of webbing
A lanyard that has been used to arrest a fall should be discarded and never be reused.
A harness that has arrested a fall must be taken out of service and inspected by a competent person
before re-use.
IF ANY DAMAGE OR DEFECT IS FOUND IN THE EQUIPMENT IT IS NOT TO BE USED and should be
passed to a competent person for repair.
NO UNAUTHORISED MODIFICATION OR ADAPTION SHOULD BE MADE FROM THE MANUFACTURERS
SPECIFICATION
Further advice, including detailed examples of defective equipment can be found in the HSE
guidance INDG367 ‘Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope’.
In addition, regular formal inspections (minimum 12-monthly, although heavily used equipment may
need more frequent inspection) should be conducted by a designated competent person who should
record the inspection. No unauthorised modification or adaptation should be made from the
manufacturer’s specification.
Harnesses and lanyards should be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
Harnesses and lanyards should comply with appropriate British Standards:
BS EN 354 – Lanyards,
BS EN 355 – Energy Absorbers,
BS EN 361 – Full body harnesses and
BS EN 363 – Fall Arrest Systems
Other British Standards cover other fall arrest equipment.
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RESCUE/RECOVERY OF FALLEN PERSON
Should a fall occur it is important that recovery of the person is undertaken promptly especially if
the person is injured or unconscious so that they cannot move. If someone is left hanging
motionless in a harness then a phenomenon known as suspension syncope (or suspension trauma)
can occur. This is caused by a number of factors but particularly the harness restricts the blood
circulation which ultimately affects vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. It can be
exacerbated by other factors such as shock or injury caused by the fall itself and lack of movement
whilst hanging in the harness. Loss of consciousness can result and a conscious casualty should be
encouraged to gently move their legs to stimulate circulation.
It is therefore essential that whenever fall protection equipment is worn thought and planning has
been given to how safe rescue will be achieved should a fall occur. All persons involved must be
made aware of the phenomenon and the need for prompt recovery.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Joint LEIA/ SAFed document: Lift & Escalator Industry Guidance for Working at Height, Safety
Information Sheet 12 available to download from the Member’s pages of the LEIA website
www.leia.co.uk
British Standards are available from https://shop.bsigroup.com/
The Work at Height Safety Association (WAHSA) produces technical guidance on most aspects of PPE
for use in work at height:
TGN01 – Guidance on the selection, use, maintenance and inspection of retractable type fall
arresters
TGN02 - Guidance on the use of single and twin energy absorbing lanyards
TGN03 - Guidance on inspecting eyebolts for personal fall protection
TGN04 - Guidance on the selection, use, maintenance and inspection of anchor devices
TGN05 - Guidance on the selection, use, maintenance and inspection of connectors
TGN06 - Guidance on the use and inspection of mobile man anchors to BS EN 795 class E
TGN07 - Guidance on the suitability of abseil rails. Design, selection, use, maintenance and
inspection
TGN08 - Guidance on connector safety
These are available for free download from http://www.wahsa.org.uk/guidance-notes/
INDG367 ‘Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope’
This is available for free download from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg367.htm
For any clarification of this information sheet contact your company Safety Advisor or the LEIA
Safety and Training Manager.
Document Reference 22
Issue Nº 2
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Revision Date 09/02/2018
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